Author's Note: Sorry about the extremely long wait. I was moving, and then had writer's block, and then a bunch of other stuff came up, but here is the next installment.


A week later, Harry sat silently across the desk, pushing his food back and forth on his plate. He was determinedly avoiding Malfoy's gaze, which seemed intent on never leaving his face. It made him incredibly uncomfortable. It made him feel like Malfoy knew what he was planning, and Harry didn't like it.

"Do you mind not staring at me?" He finally said. "It's rather creepy."

The corners of Malfoy's mouth twitched upward. "Does it? I didn't think I could rattle you with just a look Potter."

"It's not just a look, Malfoy," Harry replied, setting down his utensils. "It's a constant stare. And you're not rattling me, it's just uncomfortable."

Malfoy bowed his head. "Forgive me Potter. I'll try not to make you uncomfortable any longer."

"Why does it seem like your entire life mission has been to ruin mine?"

Malfoy set his utensils down as well, and looked back up and Harry. "It hasn't been my entire life," He smiled widely. "Only fifteen years."

Harry sighed audibly. "Malfoy, in all the years we've known each other, we've done nothing but fight and argue. Why?"

Malfoy's face darkened and he turned his gaze towards the porthole window. Harry tilted his head at Malfoy's sudden change in attitude. What had he said that-

Of course. First year at Hogwarts. In the staircase. Malfoy had offered his hand in friendship and Harry had- quite rudely- turned him down, and instead had become friends with Ron and Hermione. Harry would sometimes wonder what his life would have been like if he had chosen to become friends with Malfoy.

"Malfoy, I'm sorry-"

"Don't Potter. It's all in the past anyway. I have things to do before we arrive in Tortuga. So if you're done eating-?" Malfoy didn't even look back at him.

Harry stood up and nodded slightly, it angered him that Malfoy was commanding him on his own ship but there was nothing he could do.. "Of course, Malfoy. If there's anything I can do, don't hesitate to ask." Harry left room without another word. After shutting the door, Harry leaned against it. Earning Malfoy's trust was going to be a hell of a lot more difficult than he had originally planned for. He would have to find another form of attack.


"Are you crazy Harry?" Hermione chastised. She was sitting down below the deck in Harry's new quarters with Ron, Luna, and Ginny and, of course, Harry. "Even thinking of trying something like that with Malfoy is risky-"

"-Are you even sure of your sexuality?" Interjected Ginny. All eyes fell on her. "I mean, I know that you weren't in love with me, but-"

"No, I'm sure of myself," Harry said confidently, trying to keep his face from flushing. Seeing Malfoy again had made something in the pit of his stomach stir, and he hadn't felt something like that since he and Ginny started dating. "It'll catch him off guard, and provide the distraction we need to get the ship back under my control. It might weaken him enough to get my wand back. Without it, we don't have anything." Harry could do wandless magic of course, but only little things, and only if he was within a close proximity of his wand. Without his wand, he would only be at a quarter of his power.

"But Harry- Malfoy? Really? Couldn't it be anyone else? Like Zabini? At least he's reasonable, and has a decent face." Hermione pleaded.

"Zabini isn't the one in charge. And Malfoy isn't terrible looking-"

"-No, he's downright gorgeous," Luna spoke up in her wistful voice. All eyes turned to her. "His eyes reflect the stormy skies, and his hair is like spun silk. You can't tell me that none of you haven't thought that either." Everyone shifted in their spots uncomfortably.

"Yes, well," Harry cleared his throat. "Anyway. So, we're all clear on the plan then?" Everyone nodded. "Excellent. I'll do what I can but you all have to play along, understood?"

"Yes, Captain."

"Excellent, well, let's get to it. We have a lot of work to do before we arrive in Tortuga."


Draco paced at the upper deck where Zabini had taken the helm. Crabbe and Goyle were up in the crow's nest, while Pansy and Daphne stood on the port and starboard sides. Nott was using his wand to maintain the sails and roping. Everyone was on guard, despite the fact that they had captured one of the most notorious wizarding pirates, they were starting to sail into unsafe waters the closer they got to Tortuga. There were very few pirates on the island who would forgive Draco for his decision to work for the Ministry.

"Sir, I will tie you to the mast if you don't stop that pacing," said Millie from her spot next to Zabini. She didn't even have to turn around to know that he was pacing.

Draco sighed and stepped up next to her. "I apologize if my distress is upsetting you," he responded with mild venom in his voice.

"Potter is getting to you isn't he?" She replied, ignoring his previous comment. She glanced over at him and saw the dark circles under his eyes, that he had done his best to hide from her. "When was the last time you had a good shag?"

Draco spluttered. "I don't believe that is any of your concern!" He replied indigently. "And it isn't Potter-"

Millie ignored him again, "Let's see, we were last in port a little over a month ago, not counting our time in Port Royal, and I don't believe you really left the ship, so it must've been before that," She recalled, closing her eyes. Draco groaned, and he saw Zabini nod in agreement. He knew his helmsman didn't want to hear about his captain's sex life. "Oh, now I remember, it was the tall brunette. He had the most amazing eyes, didn't he? Funny, he even looked a little like Potter-"

"Bulstrode!" Draco growled. "That's enough, don't you think?"

She smiled sweetly at him. "All I'm saying is that perhaps all you need is a good shag, and I think Potter could provide that for you."

"He's not even into men, let alone me. What makes you think I-" Draco stopped talking and glanced down towards the captain's quarters. There was a shadowy figure lurking near the door. His eyes narrowed. Who would dare try and enter a magically protected room without a wand?

"Commodore?"

Draco ignored her and quietly made his way down the steps. Staying the shadows, he watched at the figure waved their hand and walked through the door, unaffected by the wards Draco had placed on the door upon arriving on the ship. Draco stood there for a moment, stunned. No one he knew was capable of wandless magic. Not even– well it was something he didn't want to remember.

Draco took a tentative step forward, and then realized that he shouldn't be so frightened. He was the one with the wand, and he was a Commodore to boot, he frightened others, and it may have just been luck that the person had gotten past his wards. They weren't as strong as his regular wards, anyways. Potter had been smart and had put powerful wards on his door, some that Draco couldn't retune for himself, and hopefully Potter wouldn't figure out that he could still easily get past the door. Draco strode over to the door, and opened it, nearly having it slam against the wall. The figure turned from where he was by the bed.

"Potter?" So Potter knew wandless magic did he? That was something Draco could use later.

"Uh- hello," he muttered, hiding his hands behind his back. "Commodore," he added, knowing that Draco hated hearing that word slip past his lips. At that moment, though, Potter looked less like a Captain, and more like the 11 year old First Year he once knew.

Draco narrowed his eyes. "What are you doing here Potter? And how did you get past my wards."

Potter smiled mischievously. "Just something I'm actually good at doing, I guess." He shrugged. "It's nothing special really. And you should really work on overriding someone else's ward, Malfoy. That was a piece of cake."

Draco nearly spluttered. "Nothing special? Potter, you're probably one of very few people who can do that," Draco shook his head. "Nevermind, that's not important, what is important is what you might be hiding behind your back."

"Behind me?" Potter faked innocence, something he was particularly good at, as Draco had relearned over the past week.

"Acco Potter's Wand!" From behind him, his wand zoomed over his head and into Draco's outstretched hand.

"Well, if that isn't a bit of quick wand work for you," Potter said, looking quite stunned. "Wonder what else you've learned over the years."

Draco blinked at him. Was Potter flirting with him? "Wouldn't you like to know." He sneered.

"Actually I would," He sat down on the bed. "You may think that I'm messing with you, Malfoy, but we haven't seen each other since the day I gave your wand back." Malfoy recalled that moment as clear as day, as he had for the past six years. "Tell me, what made you begin working with the Ministry?" He asked in a polite tone. "Last I had heard, you were still a pirate living of the coast of Portugal, living a happy life with what's-her-name?"

"Astoria," Draco growled with indigence. A vile woman if there was any, even her own sister despised her.

"Right," Potter waved the name off. "So what happened with all of that? Sounds like a happy life to me."

"Do you really want to know, Potter?" He nodded like a five year old getting ready to hear the best story of his life. "The past reminded me to much of the Dark Days, and I decided to make a better change in my life. So I turned to the one thing I know I'm brilliant at, and that's sailing the seas." He wasn't sure why he was he was confessing this to his childhood enemy.

"I see," He pondered Draco's words. "Are you afraid of me, Malfoy?"

Draco blanched. "What?"

"You heard me, are you afraid of me?"

"What reason would I have of being afraid of you?" Though Draco felt he might already know the answer to that.

But instead of answering, Potter just shrugged. "Ginny and I separated."

"Fascinating, Potter," Draco drawled, willing to let Potter avoid the unanswered question. Potter was good at changing the subject quickly. "And why, pray tell, would I be interested in your love life?"

Potter stood up and walked towards him to the door, sliding past Draco, and whispered in his ear as he passed, "Because I've found new prey that has caught my fancy." And with that he pulled open the door and departed the room.

A shiver ran down his spine and something stirred in the pit of his stomach. Draco nearly sank to the floor. "Oh, bloody hell," he murmured. Harry Potter fancied him.


Harry stood on the deck of his ship watching the sun slip down past the horizon. Malfoy had been avoiding him for a week now, and he was finding it highly amusing. Every time Harry would walk around a corner, or enter a room on the ship that Malfoy was in, he would mutter something under his breath and leave the vicinity. Harry knew that soon enough, Malfoy would have to talk to him. He was the leading expert on Tortuga, and they were drawing closer and closer to their destination.

One thing that still bothered Harry was Malfoy's reaction to his line of questioning. He had separated from his former fiance, Astoria, and took up the helm for the Ministry. And although Malfoy had told him that it was because he wanted to lead a better life, Harry felt that that wasn't completely true. Harry had run away from the Ministry to finally find some solace in not having to take orders from everyone and he didn't have to be in the spotlight anymore. Is that what Malfoy wanted? To be in the spotlight? Well, he could certainly have that.

"Kind of chilly out tonight, isn't it Potter?" Harry turned his neck to glance over his shoulder to see Malfoy standing there, looking absolutely stunning in only his shirt and trousers. He had taken off the jacket and his boots.

"You're one to talk, Malfoy," replied Harry, avoiding Malfoy's eyes. He was afraid of being fully sucked into those grey pools. "I'm not the one wandering the deck with no boots." He smiled.

To his surprise, Malfoy smiled back. "Yes, well, I wander when I can't sleep, Potter. Whether I'm wearing boots or not."

"Then we have something in common." Malfoy walked up next to him, and leaned on the railing.

"May I ask you something, Potter?" He was speaking softly.

"What is it, Malfoy?"

"Why doesn't your ship have a name?" It wasn't a question he was expecting, but it caught him off guard none-the-less.

"I-I don't know," he replied solemnly. "Nothing seems to fit quite right." He looked sideways at Malfoy, he had a faraway look on his face. "What's the name of your ship?"

"The Gilded Serpent," he replied casually. Harry snorted with laughter. Malfoy glared at him. "What's so funny about that Potter?"

"It's just so typical of you to name your ship in the style of a Slytherin," he choked out between laughter.

Malfoy muttered something and turned his head back to the horizon.

"Why are you talking to me now, Malfoy, after avoiding me for nearly a week?"

Malfoy shrugged. "I guess I figured I can't avoid you forever." He turned to look at Harry. "A ship is a small place, isn't it?" He laughed. "And I miss your company at meals, if you can believe that!"

Harry smiled. Perhaps Malfoy wasn't as bad as Harry remembered him to be. "I can, because I've missed you as well."

Malfoy blushed. "Yes- well," He stepped back from the railing. "I will see you tomorrow, then." And with that he disappeared into the Captain's quarters.

"Right," Harry found himself missing the blonde already.